GREENWICH — It’s more than just a fundraiser: The St. Catherine of Siena Church Carnival of Fun has become a summer tradition in Riverside.

And it returns this week, running from Tuesday to Saturday with rides, games, music and food for everyone in town to enjoy.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone to get together and have fun with their neighbors without having to travel far and wide to do it,” church member Elizabeth Peldunas said Friday. “This is a wonderful event for everyone in town that really shows off what Riverside is all about.”

And that is a task Peldunas is also focused on because, in addition to being one of the hundreds of church volunteers who work to make the carnival a success, she is also president of the Riverside Association. She said residents from all over town support the carnival, even if they’re not members of the church congregation.

After rain washed out the event one night last year, Peldunas heard from carnival fans who said they would come back the next day.

“We put a lot of effort into this and ... having people come up to you and say that means a lot,” she said. “We want to show off our church and show off the best of Riverside — and hearing that makes all the hard work worth it.”

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Nearly 300 volunteers take part — with most getting to work during the carnival by taking tickets, running the food stands, preparing dessert items for the bake sale and even manning the dunk tank.

The carnival hours will be 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Nearly 1,800 carnival-goers are expected each night. Admission is free, but there is a charge for the rides. A bracelet for unlimited rides each night costs $30 per person.

This year’s carnival will feature new rides for kids and adults — including the very impressive Vertigo. But Peldunas warned that it is not for the faint-hearted — riders are lifted up and the ride opens up like an umbrella and spins everyone around.

“This may be one of those situations where you want to ride first and eat later,” she said.

And there will be plenty to choose from in the food tent — from burgers, hot dogs, chili and cheesesteaks to ice cream and other desserts. Another favorite on the menu is the pizza fritta, with a debate underway at the carnival’s Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/StCatherineofSienaCarnival, over the preferred topping — cheese and sauce or confectioner’s sugar.

“It’s being hotly debated, and hopefully a lot of people will come to the carnival and try it out for themselves,” Peldunas said.

There will be live music every night, with the Sound Beach Community Band kicking it off on Tuesday, and a jazz trio scheduled to play Wednesday. Local cover band Cover Story takes the stage Thursday, with the classic rock group Time Machine returning on Friday. The St. Catherine’s Players and DJ Joe will play Saturday, along with a guest appearance by The Blue Room, a parishioner’s band.

Raffle tickets will be sold, too, with a $30,000 AMEX gift card as the top prize. Second prize is a $5,000 gift card and third prize is a $3,000 gift card. Fourth prize is a $500 gift card to Aux Delices, fifth prize is a Mohegan Sun Casino getaway and the sixth prize is a giant Revel Mountain Bike.

With parking at a premium near the church, carnival-goers are urged to park at nearby Eastern Middle School. A shuttle bus will run from 6 to 11 nightly.